These pointe shoes have been prepared for performance but do not appear to have been worn. The toes and instep of each shoe have been darned. Darning the toes prevents slipping and darning the instep assists in pulling the shoe close to the foot. They are stamped NICOLINI, ROMEO, MADE IN ITALY. Nicolini, based in Milan, was Pavlova’s preferred shoe maker. These shoes most likely date from the 1920s.
